Alternative Fuels- Substitutes for traditional liquid, oil-derived motor vehicle fuels like gasoline and diesel. Includes mixtures of alcohol-based fuels with gasoline, methanol, ethanol, compressed natural gas, and others.

Aluminum- A lightweight, silver-white, metallic element that makes up approximately 7 percent of the Earth's crust. Aluminum is mined in the form of bauxite ore where it exists primarily in combination with oxygen as alumina. Aluminum is used in a variety of ways, but perhaps most familiarly in the manufacture of soft drink cans.

Ash- The mineral content of a product remaining after complete combustion.

Bacteria- (Singular: bacterium) Microscopic living organisms that can aid in pollution control by metabolizing organic matter in sewage, oil spills or other pollutants. However, bacteria in soil, water or air can also cause human, animal and plant health problems.

Beach Advisory- A non-regulatory document that communicates risk information to beachgoers.

Bottle Bill- Proposed or enacted legislation which requires a returnable deposit on beer or soda containers and provides for retail store or other redemption. Such legislation is designed to discourage use of throw-away containers.

Brown Goods- Electronics (e.g., computers, TVs, telephones) for recycling programs.

Buy-Back Center- Facility where individuals or groups bring recyclables in return for payment.

Clean Fuels- Blends or substitutes for gasoline fuels, including compressed natural gas, methanol, ethanol, and liquified petroleum gas.

Cleanup- Actions taken to deal with a release or threat of release of a hazardous substance that could affect humans and/or the environment. The term "cleanup" is sometimes used interchangeably with the terms removal action, response action, or corrective action.

Close the Loop- A term used to describe the last, and most important, step in the recycling process. It refers to the point when a consumer buys a recycled product after it has been put into a recycling program and reprocessed into a new item. (See Recycling Symbol)

Commercial Waste- All solid waste emanating from business establishments such as stores, markets, office buildings, restaurants, shopping centers, and theaters.

Commercial Waste Management Facility- A treatment, storage, disposal, or transfer facility which accepts waste from a variety of sources, as compared to a private facility which normally manages a limited waste stream generated by its own operations.

Composting- Nature's way of recycling. Composting refers to a solid waste management technique that uses natural processes to convert organic materials to humus through the action of microorganisms. Compost is a mixture that consists largely of decayed organic matter and is used for fertilizing and conditioning land.

Conservation- The wise use of natural resources (nutrients, minerals, water, plants, animals, etc.). Planned action or non-action to preserve or protect living and non-living resources.

Contaminant- A material harmful to the recycling process when included with recyclable material.

Direct Runoff- Water that flows over the ground surface or through the ground directly into streams, rivers, and lakes.

Disposal- Final placement or destruction of toxic, radioactive, or other wastes; surplus or banned pesticides or other chemicals; polluted soils; and drums containing hazardous materials from removal actions or accidental releases. Disposal may be accomplished through use of approved secure landfills, surface impoundments, land farming, deep-well injection, ocean dumping, or incineration.

Drop-off Site- A designated place for individuals to bring Recyclable materials.

Ecological Impact- The effect that a man-caused or natural activity has on living organisms and their non-living (abiotic) environment.

EPA- Environmental Protection Agency.

Fecal Coliform Bacteria- Bacteria found in the intestinal tracts of mammals. Their presence in water or sludge is an indicator of pollution and possible contamination by pathogens.

Fossil Fuel- The remains of plant and animal life that are used to provide energy by combustion; coal, oil, natural gas.

Garbage- Animal and vegetable waste resulting from the handling, storage, sale, preparation, cooking, and serving of foods.

Glass- A hard, brittle, generally transparent or translucent material typically formed from the rapid cooling of liquefied minerals. Most commercial glass is made from a molten mixture of soda ash, sand, and lime.

Glass Containers- For recycling purposes, containers like bottles and jars for drinks, food, cosmetics and other products. When being recycled, container glass is generally separated into color categories for conversion into new containers, construction materials or fiberglass insulation.

Ground Water- The supply of fresh water found beneath the Earth's surface, usually in aquifers, which supply wells and springs. Because ground water is a major source of drinking water, there is growing concern over contamination from agricultural or industrial pollutants or leaking underground storage tanks.

HDPE- High-density polyethylene. A type of plastic that is commonly used in milk, distilled water, and laundry detergent bottles.

Household Hazardous Waste- A product that is discarded from a home or a similar source that is either ignitable, corrosive, reactive, or toxic (e.g. used motor oil, oil-based paint, auto batteries, gasoline, pesticides, etc.).

Integrated Waste Management- A solid waste management strategy that utilizes more than one of the following: source reduction and reuse, recycling, waste-to-energy incineration, and landfill disposal.

LDPE- Low-density polyethylene. Commonly used in shrink-wrap, newspaper bags, and grocery bags.

Litter- Waste that is improperly disposed of on the street, sidewalk, lakes and other bodies of water, and in the general environment.

Municipal Solid Waste- Garbage or refuse that is generated by households, commercial establishments, industrial offices or lunchrooms and sludges not regulated as a residual or hazardous waste. This does not include source-separated recyclables.

Non-Renewable Resource- A resource that is not capable of being naturally restored or replenished; a resource that is exhausted because it has not been replaced or because it is used faster than it can be replaced (e.g. oil, coal). Their use as material and energy sources leads to depletion of the Earth's reserves and are characterized as such because they do not renew in human relevant periods.

Organic- A term that refers to molecules made up of two ore more atoms of carbon, generally pertains to compounds formed by living organisms.

Packaging- The wrapping material around a consumer item that serves to contain, identify, describe, protect, display, promote, and otherwise make the product marketable and keep it clean.

Paper- A thin material made of pulp from wood, rags, or other fibrous materials and used for writing, printing, or wrapping.

PET- Polyethylene terepthalate. A type of plastic used to make soft drink, juice, and cough syrup containers. PET is also used to make fabric.

Plastic- A material made from petroleum capable of being molded, extruded, or cast into various shapes. There are many different kinds of plastic made from different combinations of compounds.

Pollution- Contamination of air, soil, or water with harmful substances.

Post-Consumer- A term used to describe material that is being reused/recycled after it has been in the consumer's hands (e.g., a newspaper going back to the paper mill to be recycled into new recycled content paper products). Material or product used by the consumer for its original purpose and then discarded.

Pre-Consumer- A term used to describe material that is being reused/recycled before it ever goes to market (e.g. paper scraps off of a paper mill floor going back into the next batch of paper). Waste material generated during the manufacturing process.

Recyclable- A term used to designate that a product or its package can be recycled. This term may be misleading as there may not be a recycling program that takes the identified material in the consumer's area.

Recycled- A term used to describe material that has been separated from the waste stream, reprocessed into a new product (often taking the place of virgin material), and then bought back by the consumer as new item.

Recycled Content- The amount of pre- and post-consumer recovered material introduced as a feed stock in a material production process, usually expressed as a percentage (e.g., 30% post-consumer content).

Recycle Symbol- The chasing arrow symbol used to show that a product or package may be recycled if there is a program available. On plastics, it is used along with a numbering system (1-7) to help designate plastic resins used in the product.

Recycling Center- A place where recyclables are collected and/or processed (such as separation and baling) in preparation for market.

Renewable Resource- A resource that is capable of being naturally restored or replenished.

Reuse- To find a new function for an item that has outgrown its original use; use again.

Sanitary Landfill- A landfill that has been designed and engineered to accept municipal waste while ensuring minimal negative impact upon the environment.

Source Reduction- Reducing the amount and/or toxicity of an item before it is ever generated (e.g., buying an item with less packaging, using a non-toxic alternative to clean with).

Steel- A strong, durable material made of iron and carbon, and often other metals, to achieve different properties. Steel is often used as a component in cans and as a structural material in construction.

Sunny Garcia- World Champion surfer and five-time Triple Crown winner. The second "Don't Trash California" spokesperson for Keep California Beautiful.

Tony Hawk- World Champion pro skateboarder. The first "Don't Trash California" spokesperson for Keep California Beautiful.

Vermicomposting- The process whereby worms feed on slowly decomposing materials (e.g., vegetable scraps) in a controlled environment to produce a nutrient-rich soil amendment.

Virgin Product- Term that refers to products that are made with 100% new raw materials and contain no recycled materials.

White goods- Large appliances (e.g., refrigerators, stoves, washing machines, and dryers) for recycling programs.